No one enjoys paying taxes, but finally, West Tennesseans can enjoy paying less of them. This is the last year your Tax Day will be so complicated.

In December, with President Trump’s strong support, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and enacted the first major reform of our tax code in 31 years.

It was a historic moment for hard-working West Tennesseans as we cut taxes at every single income level, and we are already seeing huge benefits across the nation. Paychecks are growing and businesses, small and large, are expanding their operations and creating new jobs on American soil.

After years of stagnant growth under the Obama Administration, our economy is finally on the rise. And we are just getting started.

As I travel from county to county, I continue to hear positive stories from men and women who are getting to keep more of their own money.

The fact of the matter is that Americans know how to spend their hard-earned paycheck far better than any bureaucrat in Washington.

So, when I worked with President Trump to pass tax cuts, my primary focus was on providing relief for West Tennessee families and creating good-paying jobs for our workforce.

We also lowered the corporate tax rate to boost America’s competitiveness and allow businesses to expand and invest in their employees. Across the country, more than four million workers and counting have received a bonus, pay raise or increased retirement benefits.

Last week, I heard from the owner of a construction product company in Madison County who was able to give his employees a well-deserved bonus with his savings from the lowered rate.

In January, just one month after passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, FedEx announced an investment of more than $200 million to raise wages for their employees. That includes the more than 8,400 workers who live in the Eighth District. Two months later, FedEx continued their post-tax reform action and committed $1 billion to expand their FedEx Express hub in Memphis. This investment will have a huge impact on the entire region for decades to come.

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Tyson Foods, which employs about 1,600 people in the Eight District, gave a bonus to their front line workers, who, in the company’s own words, are “the backbone of the business.” Tyson also announced a major $84 million expansion of their chicken plant in Obion County that will create more than 300 new jobs for West Tennesseans.

First Horizon Corporation, a Shelby County-based bank with branches across the Volunteer State, also invested tax reform savings in their workforce. Not only did the bank give eligible employees a bonus – they also increased their minimum pay to $15 an hour. Now, that is the Republican way to raise the minimum wage.

It is clear that tax reform is working, and the American economic engine is off and running again.

The most recent federal jobs report shows the fastest wage growth since the 2008-2009 recession, and the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.1 percent, which is a 17-year low.

Delivering much-needed tax relief for Tennesseans was a historic accomplishment, but our work cannot stop there. I will continue to support pro-growth policies and work with the President to deliver on our promises.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff represents Tennessee's Eighth District, which includes 13 counties and portions of Shelby and Benton counties.